προκαλέω (prokaleō)
prokaleō
to provoke
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prokaleō means to call someone forth, typically with the intent of challenging them to a contest or confrontation. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Galatians 5:26, where Paul warns believers against provoking one another. The context makes clear that this is not a casual invitation but a deliberate act of stirring up rivalry or irritation among fellow Christians.
Its meaning derives from two parts: pro, meaning "before" or "forth," and kaleō, meaning "to call." Together, they paint a picture of summoning someone to face you directly. While the word can simply mean to invite in other ancient texts, Paul uses it here to describe behavior that incites conflict. Translators usually render it as "provoke," capturing the sense of instigating a reaction rather than merely speaking to someone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Living alongside other believers often brings moments of friction, yet Paul offers a clear warning in Galatians 5:26. The word for provoking here describes actively calling someone out to stir up rivalry or irritation. It is not merely reacting to anger but deliberately inciting conflict within the community.
This insight invites us to examine our own interactions. We can choose to build up others rather than summon them into arguments. By avoiding these deliberate provocations, we create space for humility and peace to grow in our relationships with fellow Christians.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- provoking,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προκαλούμενοι,1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 5:26
Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
Paul uses this specific verb to warn believers against deliberately stirring up rivalry or irritation among themselves.